Prevent Falls at Home with These 9 Tips

According to the CDC, falls are the top cause of injuries, resulting in cuts, hip fractures, and even serious brain and head injuries that can sometimes be fatal. A fall can seem so scary to some seniors that they stop participating in their favorite activities because they’re afraid they might fall again. Because this is Falls Prevention Month, Chad Knight, DPM at Knight Foot & Ankle in Edmond and Jones, OK, shares 9 fall prevention tips for the seniors in your life.

1. Remove or repair tripping dangers: Examine every hallway and room, looking for slippery throw rugs, wood floorboards that stick up, or loose carpet. Then, remove, replace, or repair those items.

2. Clear the clutter: The simplest way to avoid falls is to keep your home tidy. Remove all clutter, especially from staircases and hallways.

3. Don’t wear clothing that is too loose: Excessively baggy clothes can sometimes make seniors more likely to fall. Instead, wear properly hemmed, better-fitting clothes that don’t hang on the ground or bunch up.

4. Install handrails and grab bars: For those with limited mobility, these devices can be crucial for getting on and off the toilet, stepping in and out of the bathtub, and going up and down stairs.

5. Wear shoes: Socks are comfortable, but they pose a slipping risk. Wear shoes or nonslip socks with grips on the bottom.

6. Light it up: To create a home that's easier to get around, install brighter lights where needed, particularly in narrow hallways and stairways. Add nightlights in bathrooms and bedrooms for better navigation at night.

7. Live on one level: If possible, live on one level, but if that’s not possible, limit the number of trips you take up and down the stairs.

8. Make it nonslip: Showers, bathtubs, and floors in bathrooms, porches, and kitchens can become extremely dangerous when wet, so invest in nonslip mats for those areas.

9. Move carefully: Many people move too rapidly from standing to sitting and vice versa. Preventing falls can be as simple as taking your time.

For seniors, fall prevention means injury prevention! Chad Knight, DPM at Knight Foot & Ankle in Edmond and Jones, OK, hopes you'll share these tips with the senior loved ones in your life! If you need to schedule a visit, call us at (405) 513-0385 or click here to schedule your visit online.

Coming Soon! We’ll be moving our Edmond office to 3125 N Sooner Road, Suite 100, Edmond, OK 73034. Our phone number will remain the same.